N.O. Homes Said Unsafe: "The last time I checked, this is still America"

[bigtree]

(Black) Residents Protest New Orleans Demolitions

Friday January 6, 2006 4:47 PM

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5528100,00.html

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The city says 5,500 buildings may need to be torn down because hurricane-related damage has made them unsafe, but many black residents worried that their homes will be demolished without their consent.

At an emotional protest outside City Hall, Lower Ninth Ward residents, activists and city council members blasted Mayor Ray Nagin and his administration for saying the city can raze homes without an owner's consent if the structures pose a public danger.

``The last time I checked, this is still America,'' said City Council President Oliver Thomas, who joined the protest Thursday.

He threatened to stand in front of any bulldozers that tried to crush homes in the Ninth Ward.

>>>>Inspections of 128,000 homes and businesses on New Orleans' east bank of the Mississippi River showed 5,500 buildings were unsafe due to Hurricane Katrina and may need to be razed.

Meffert said two weeks ago that the city can demolish homes without an owner's consent if the structure poses an imminent danger. A public outcry ensued, and a lawsuit was filed to prevent the demolitions and to argue some homes were mistakenly marked as unsafe.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5528100,00.html

[TrueAmerican]

1. Americans can work in Unsafe Mines

But the politicians draw the line when they want to live on property built on prime real estate.

[ThomWV]

2. No Mine Is Safe

[Beelzebud]

3. Need to check often.. America is being destroyed.

[Swamp Rat]

4. I slept on a moldy wooden floor with bits of plaster falling down

for the last few days, but I'm still alive. I'd rather be living in a fucked up HOME than homeless again. :mad: